Brothers

Being a brother can be tricky sometimes. It can be difficult to be a best friend and nemesis all rolled up in one. One brother may want to run while the other wants to sit and relax. So sometimes you just have to split up and try things out for yourself.

Itai decided that he would try one of Avi's old tricks, the "self-portrait." And since Itai is terrified of fireworks Avi had to check out the neighborhood firework show all on his own. (He really liked it.)

While Avi was busy with that, Itai found this car to be his speed. He loved it.

But Itai wasn't the only one looking for a ride. Avi found this Pontiac Powerwheel to be more of his speed. This nice stranger in a blue hat was kind enough to pick up a hitch hiker.
Avi may feel like playing ring-around-the-rosieWhile Itai might want to take a break and listen to his favorite music.
One brother may take an adventurous approach...

And the other may try a more cautious method.Even though brothers may have a lot going on and may have separate interests they always come back together for one reason: love.

Yeah, brotherly love.

Too Cool For (Pre)School

You know the jocks at the cool table at your high school cafeteria? Yeah, cooler than that.

You know those middle aged guys in their convertibles with those sweet leather driving gloves? Waaaaaay cooler than that!

You know those kids on the Disney channel and all over the radio. So much cooler than that!

And the kids with those "non-conformist" star tattoos? And those guys who walk around with their guitars slung over their shoulders? Cooler than both combined!

That's right, Itai is cooler than cool.

"Oooohhhh yeah!"

We're Still Here, Somewhere

Ok, so life is hectic right now. School is giving me a pretty good beating and the assignments seem to never stop pouring in. The good news is that I was sick last week and had to take of a couple of days from school. Yeah, I was throwing up, but I wasn't in class!

Debbie had a birthday and the boys love birthdays. After my class and Avi and Itai were both home we decided to go buy mommy a present. The boys are BIG spenders and got to buy any one item from the dollar store for her. We walked around for a little bit before Itai found something he was interested in, an Elmo book. What could be a better present? Well, a few minutes later he found it: a baby!

I kept telling him we had to give it to mommy and not keep it for ourselves. He promised several times he wouldn't keep it, but top secret intelligence has found these pictures.

SCANDAL!

Avi found a lovely feather boa for her present. Everyone loves a beautiful sensory experience like wearing a boa, right? I'd show you a picture of the boa, but it turns out dollar store boas and two toddlers don't mix well.

So, Itai has obviously been playing with his baby lately, but what about Avi? He's been busy too. First off, since Itai made his ad for Cheetos he wanted to try his hand at product endorsement. He says, "Wow! You better eat your Wheaties." He's also found a few new obsessions. His latest is this little puzzle. We've had it for ages, but he recently decided to take it on as an obsession. He loves the ambulance, just don't try to take the piece out.He also found this little gadget. He's been working on toy play at preschool and is finally playing with toys. Yay! He really likes this one.Oh and these ones. There's a whole toy box in front of him that will eventually be on top of him.

And don't forget his artistic endeavors. Here is an example of his early work in the cabinet medium. That's right, he decided to decorate our cabinets with PERMANENT marker! Luckily, it wiped off pretty easily.Last but not least, Itai has moved out of the room he shares with Avi. His new room is a bit smaller, but it provides him with the privacy he craves. Don't call Child Protective Services...seriously, he has a bed still.

Haven't I a Son?

When you talk of your child,
And tell me what he's done,
And talk gives way to silence
Haven't I a son?

When I see yours with others,
As they play and jump and run,
While my own sits all alone
Haven't I a son?

When I see your family
Engaged in children's fun
While my own must do his work,
Haven't I a son?

When you talk of youth in progress
Though my son's has scarcely begun,
I sink inside my self to wonder
"Haven't I a son?"

I hear you tell his troubles
As if he's the only one.
My heart aches as it cries,
"Haven't I a son?"

When you wait for my reply,
But silence can only stun.
These words are stuck within my mouth:
Haven't I a son?

And when the weight of truth
Presses me like a ton
I sit alone at night to cry,
"Haven't I a son?"

Pardon the Interruption

This summer has been a really busy semester. I've been much busier than I would have liked. I have lots of homework and papers and a ridiculous amount of reading. So, with all this busy work I've had to cut out some minor, insignificant things around the house. First to go, vacuuming. Itai has been enrolled to pick up the slack.
"Mom, he's making me clean again!"At least he's figured out a way to make the best out of the slave labor situation. I just wish I had thought of that.What else has gone? Well, you save so much time when you don't dress your children. It's so convenient! You also save a lot of time when you don't bother putting any lunch together. Besides, they can fend for themselves. Avi has discovered his own food supply.Itai has begun refining his culinary skills as well. Take one pot, add fish. Stir until even smashed and serve immediately.And enjoy!
Don't forget dessert. Here's a quick recipe: take one package of sprinkles, carefully coat entire floor and throw one tantrum when removed from mess. Add one broom and a little assistant with a swiffer.
Does he seem upset by the mess? He really wasn't until I started sweeping.

Summer Makes a Splash!

My utter failure to find someone to take the boys to the pool fortunately did not keep them out of the pool long. Their lucky enough to have a mom who was kinda enough to take them to the pool. Itai was so excited he shouted, "Water! Water!" The whole way to the pool. Avi was excited too. He was shouting, "Swimming! Want swimming!" Avi really enjoyed himself in the water. He was a VERY far cry from the boy who was so anxious in the water that he barely moved a muscle beyond blinking and letting his teeth chatter. When we were California in May he was just terrified of being in the water. Today he was splashing and laughing and talking up a storm.

Itai really liked spending the evening in the pool. As you can tell he thought it was a little cool. He seems a bit like a duck. His little legs kicked quickly underneath his little raft as he shot across the water.

Oh, and did I mention the splashing? It's the best! You can't have more fun than that. An entire pool just to the three of them. It's the perfect place to splash and yell.

Or just have a nice relaxing float across the shallow end.

Is this a lot of pictures or is it just me? Well, I had to do something while I sat on the sidelines waiting for them to tire of the pool or for time to end, which ever came first. Ok, for me to play the bad guy and drag them kicking, screaming and gnashing teeth.

But back to the pool. Debbie was a great pool buddy. She kept them very happily going around the pool. Avi loved it so much he yelled out, "Circle!"

There was only one down side to the pool. The water apparently doesn't taste very good, at least Itai didn't think so.

Avi didn't think it tasted good either. Oh yeah, there is nothing more on a warm summer evening than a splash in the pool.

Especially one with a great mommy.

Avi & Itai 101

Life with Avi and Itai is pretty great. There's a lot going on with these two boys. They have a lot of similarities and a lot of differences. One thing they both love is hospital grilled cheese sandwiches. No trip to the hospital is complete without a trip to the cafe.

Life is pretty busy and can be pretty exhausting. Just ask Avi.

Or Itai... Sometimes you have to fall asleep right where you lie. Avi has developed some favorite activities. Anyone who has seen him lately knows how much he loves standing on his head. He still loves running, jumping and climbing. Sometimes he has to be creative to find new places to climb; the counter is so last month! We took out our old baby stroller for a friend who is having a baby soon. I cleaned all the dust off and left it out for her. Avi quickly decided it was designed for purposes other than strolling. We're thinking Splore might be a good activity for him. They have climbing walls just for kids on the spectrum. It's probably safer than stroller climbing.

Itai loves the stroller too. He's not so much into climbing as he is into a good photo op. He climbed up, plopped himself down and started clapping. I took out the camera and he said, "Cheese!" He has a lot of new favorites too. His new favorite word is "uh-oh!" But he also likes saying "bulldozer, Jeep (a really new favorite), truck and tweet, tweet, tweet."

No discussion of favorites is complete without two things they both love. Water. A bath, a wading pool, a swimming pool, the ocean, a puddle, whatever. If there is any amount of water both boys are there and happy. Avi still asks for the ocean and every time we pass our neighborhood pool Itai points out that there is water over there. (No really, any volunteers to take them to the pool? My neighbors might try to whale me.) Itai's school will be doing water days soon. Avi would be so jealous to know that, the only fun thing he gets to do at school is hit a pinata. Oh, and the one thing they both love and hate is eating. Their favorite foods disappear before the we get settled down. Sometimes during the prayer. They could pack down these favorites all day, but if we put out something they don't like suddenly they can go days without eating. Lastly, they love each other. Avi, of course, has his personal space that he doesn't like Itai to violate, but he loves him none the less. Itai can bully his big brother but he loves him like crazy. Debbie told me while they were shopping yesterday they climbed into one of those car carts. She looked in at them and found Itai giving Avi hugs and kisses and stroking his hair. Then to her surprise she saw Avi return the favor by giving Itai big hugs and kisses. That's brothers: pushing and shoving one minute, best friends the next.

So that's Avi and Itai 101. Why 101? Is it because I'm feeling like school is consuming every part of my life? Maybe. Or maybe that's my subtle way of saying this is post number 101. Yay us!